The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-04-22

center OF U0e court society OF Cne UnlUeu
States. "Grasslands" is within stones
throw of Oak View, the presidents coun-
try home. 1t lies upon some of the high
est ground of the District of Columbia ard
is composed Of l03 acres of rolling land. The
Whitney house is at the opposite side of the
farm from the presidents, and the front
doors of the two homes are perhaps half
mile apart The presidents property con-
sists of only twenty-eight acres, and he paid
for it nearly three times as much an acre as
Whitney did for his. Whitney's whole prop
erty cost him only $4,000, but it is now
worth fully 100000 and would bring that
under the hammer. The house itself is a
rambling brick structure, painted white, with
many rooms on the ground floor. 1t is far
better than the average farm house
about Washington, and Secretary Whitney
has made it one Of the pleasantest country
seats in the district. It has still around
it the generous barns and outhouses of the Or
dinary farm, and some of the old negro cab
ins still stand. wide drive leads from the
Tunlaw road up to the house, which is very
npretentious i'll appearance. The entrance
door is plain, but the interior is q continuous
wonder of old fashioned elegance and conf
fort. Mrs. Whitney has taken this old farm
house and made it into one of the most rest
full homes imaginable One of the little
, rooms at the back has been turned into hall
or vestiue, and generous hall it is About
twelve feet square, its floor is of Georgia pine,
the grain of which shows out through coat
of slelac varnish with such polish on it that
you can almost see your face in 1T. Entering
this hall. on either side Of you is an old fash
ioned mahogany hall seat inlaid with brass,
and having a solid back and sides of comfort
able proportions. A strip of Turkish rug
lies between these, and directly in front of
you and leading on into a second hall there is
a door, the stone step of witch is worn low
with the tread of many generations. Over
this door magnificent pair of antlers look
down upon you, and at its left brass faced
old Dutch clock, taller than the tallest man,
stares out of its mahogany case and solemnly
ticks welcome. If you enter on the hour
its gong like strike will hold you by its music.
At the side of this clock there is another
nair of anllels standing on the tops of their
.lori.s and leaning against the wall. These
antl.rs have mary large branches, and the
whole il so tall that it reaches nearly five feet
from the floor Mrs Whitney uses this as n
hat and shawl rack. and upon it hang shawls
of different colors. Passing through this door
we come into another hall, i'll which two old
mahogany chairs of antique shape stand as
seutinels and into which on either side opciiS-
q generous door leading to the paror and the
dining room At the end of this hall there is
door which looks out upon a hilly wn or
park shaded hy forest trees, and opposite this
within the hall are the stairs which lead by
gradual flights to the upper stories.
.*x
The parlor is large and comfortable. Tt
has many windows giving beautiful views
and its central object is the big fire of soft
coal which blazes in a curiously shaped
iron CRATE The mantel about the fire is Of